MTF Insights: Dr Andreas Hofmann @ GIZ
Andreas had a long history in private sector travel before taking the position of Team Leader, Luang Prabang Handle with Care Project for German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). He has never attended an MTF, and first heard about the Luang Prabang event from the organisers and Lao government, though he is familiar with the MTCO website.
What challenges does Luang Prabang face in hosting a multi-venue event?
Luang Prabang is not known for having the infrastructure to host large regional events. Most hotels are small, and there are no meeting rooms or facilities to cater to more than small groups of 30-50 PAX. That´s also a problem for development partners, who would like to host national and regional events in Laos, or Luang Prabang, but can’t find a suitable location.
What opportunities do you see for your organization in hosting the multi-venue MTF?
For GIZ and the EU Switch Asia sustainable tourism development project, Handle with Care, it is an excellent platform to connect with private and public sector partners across the region. It is a great opportunity to show to a broader audience what Luang Prabang has to offer as a sustainable tourism destination.
What do you think Luang Prabang should do to better host large events?
Luang Prabang should invest in better meeting facilities – not large, ugly developments, but rather local networks of suppliers and facilities that can be jointly used by the tourism industry, because demand will not justify large, single investments. The MTF is a perfect showcase of how to use such a networked approach to hosting an event, with the nice side effect of familiarising participants with different locations, the Mekong and its culture and nature, while changing venues. At this MTF, you will truly learn about the destination where the event is taking place, and experience so much more than your usual anodyne hotel convention centre.
